8-Day Historical and Wildlife Tour in Cultural Triangle

Itinerary

Day 1: Colombo - Chilaw

Stop At: Waikkala Junction, Puttalam Road, Waikkal, Sri Lanka
You will be picked up from BIA airport or your hotel in Colombo, Negombo, Mount Lavinia and driven to Chilaw for the overnight stay.
Duration: 5 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at a 4-Star hotel in Waikkal or Chilaw.

Day 2: Chilaw - Anuradhapura

Stop At: Wilpattu National Park, Putlam - Anuradhapura Road, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
05:00: You will be driven to Wilpattu where you can enjoy a full day game drive with picnic breakfast and lunch. Full Day Game drive to Wilpattu National Park is a 7-8 hours game viewing opportunity with Beyond Escapes Safari Team. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. Which is among the top national parks world-renowned for its leopard population. A safari in Wilpattu is very different from any of the other major national parks. The unique feature of this park is the existence of "Willus" (Natural lakes) that gives Wilpattu a genuine wilderness feeling. Sloth bears, spotted deer, wild pigs, and crocodiles are frequent sightings.

18:30: Arrive at Anuradhapura for the overnight stay. Overnight
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: stay at a 4-Star hotel in Anuradhapura.

Day 3: Anuradhapura - Anuradhapura

Stop At: Mahamevnawa Dhammachethiya Buddhist Monastery Anuradhapura, Watawandana Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
08:00 After breakfast, you will be driven to visit Anuradhapura ancient city. Anuradhapura is the first kingdom of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization. The city houses the oldest historically documented tree on earth, grown from a branch of the very tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment 2500 years ago. It was also the center of Theravada Buddhism for many centuries and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, you will visit Mihintale Buddhist Monastery. In the 3rd century BC, area of Mihintale was a thick jungle inhabited by wild animals and was a hunting ground reserved for the royals. This is the place where Mahinda Maha Thero, the son of the Indian Emperor Asoka, met king Devamnampiyatissa in 250 BC which resulted in inauguration of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Today it is the main center for Theravada Buddhism and the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at a 4-Star hotel in Anuradhapura.

Day 4: Anuradhapura - Sigiriya

Stop At: Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
08:00: After breakfast, you will be driven to visit Polonnaruwa ancient city. Polonnaruwa remains as one of the best planned archeological relic sites in the country, which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1982. This is a well-preserved city with ancient dagobas, moonstones, beautiful parks, massive buildings and stunningly beautiful statues.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
In the afternoon, you will be able to visit the magnificent rock fortress of Sigiriya. The 5th century Rock fortress of Sigiriya which as built by King Kashyapa is one of the Wonders of world and a UNESCO world heritage site. The Rock itself has its unique identity due to its shape. The irrigational technologies of water gardens & archeological technologies of the large lion carved at the entrance are precious as they are still existing. Sigiriya derives its name from “sinha-giri” means 'Lion Rock', due to the lion paws at the entrance. Well-designed ramparts and moats built around the rock reminds the strong protection given to the Fortress. The colorful frescoes with unique paintings of women and Mirror wall demonstrate the beauty and majesty of Sigiriya.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at a 4-Star hotel Sigiriya.

Day 5: Sigiriya - Sigiriya

Stop At: Hiriwadunna Lake, Hiriwadunna, Habarana, Sri Lanka
09:30: After breakfast, you will be driven to a rural village for an authentic village experience. Proceed with a small walk before starting the bullock cart ride. Passing some wonderful countryside attractions, you will arrive at a beautiful lake where you will experience an unforgettable traditional catamaran ride. Arrive at the Village house and proceed to visit a chena farm and explore how the chena cultivation is done by the villagers. Enjoy a traditional live cooking demonstration followed by an authentic Sri Lankan Lunch in a Village house.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, Minneriya 50150 Sri Lanka
In the afternoon, you will be driven to Minneriya National Park for the evening game drive. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population thus the national park is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers, and wading birds. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank, the park has plenty of scrubs, forest, and wetlands which are a home to approx. 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies. We provide light refreshments and water bottles during the safari.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at a 4-Star hotel in Sigiriya

Day 6: Sigiriya - Sigiriya

Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
08:30: After breakfast, you will enjoy the visit to Dambulla Cave Temple. Dambulla Cave temple is one of the most impressive and well-preserved cave temples in Asia. This complex contains five caves with over 2000 sq.m of painted walls and ceilings. This emphasizes the artistic talents of the people lived in this small island. Due to its artistic & archeological values, Dambulla Cave temple has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Today you can see the Golden temple at the entrance of Dambulla rock that includes a Buddhist museum completed in 2000.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pidurangala Rock, Pidurangala,Sigiriya, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
In the afternoon, you will be driven to visit Pidurangala Buddhist Monastery. The Pidurangala has been occupied on and off by monks who lived in the caves around the site for over two thousand five hundred years. Climbing to the top of Pidurangala Rock is more strenuous than climbing Sigiriya. The climb can be divided into two stages. At the First Stage climb has very steep irregular steps leading to a landing. The second stage of the climb starts at the far end of this landing. It has no paths or stairs. You will visit a beautiful 12.5-meter-long statute of a recumbent Buddha in the first landing. At one time in the past, this statue was the largest brick statue of Buddha in the world. Once you finally reach the top of Pidurangala Rock you will be greeted by a magnificent vista like that from the top of Sigiriya.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at a 4-Star hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 7: Sigiriya - Kandy

Stop At: Oak Ray Handcrafted Wood Carvings, 9 Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha. Gatembe, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
08:00 After breakfast, you will be driven to Matale where you can experience a wood carving demonstration at a small wood carving factory. Handicraft of woodcarving in Sri Lanka has a long history. A wide range of handicraft items made of wood like wall hangings, fancy jewelry, figurines, sculpture, lacquer products, gift boxes, toys, educational items for pre-school children, household items are available in Sri Lanka. You will also engage in Carving wood and learn something about these historical crafts.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Royal Spice Garden, 100, Kawudupelella, Sri Lanka
On completion of the wood carving experience, you will be taken to visit a spice garden where you can see how the spices are grown and experience a live cooking demonstration by using fresh spices.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kandy View Point, Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
In the afternoon, you will do a city tour of Kandy. Kandy, also Known as the hill capital or Hill country, is the last stronghold of Sinhalese kings after Portuguese, Dutch and British ruling periods. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The Kandy Lake that was built by king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1807 is one of the major highlights in the city. The upper lake drive is more scenic and memorable. Today Kandy is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visiting gem lapidary, art and craft center along with a traditional cultural show will complete the city tour in this small historical town.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay at a 4-Star hotel in Kandy.

Day 8: Kandy - Colombo

Stop At: Bandaranaike International Airport, Canada Friendship Rd, කටුනායක 11450, Sri Lanka
After breakfast, you will be driven back to airport for the departure.
Duration: 15 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.